Ampoule opener



p 1949. M. B. BIRO 2,466,200

AMPOULE OPENER Filed July 10, 1947 7 INVENTOR.

M/CHAEL 5. B/RO ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improvement in ampule openers for opening medical injection ampules which are formed of relatively thin blown glass.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of an opener whereby the necks of the ampules may readily be scored, and, after scoring, the portion beyond the neck can readily be snapped from the body at the scored portion.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an opener which can be formed of spring wire at such a low cost that an opener can be included with each box of ampules thus assuring the doctor or nurse that an opener is available when a box of ampules is purchased.

In the drawings, I have illustrated several forms of openers made in accordance with my invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an opener associated with an ampule for scoring;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an opener such as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of another form of opener; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the opener shown in Fig. 4.

In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the opener comprises a pair of crossed legs, each designated by the reference character In, connected to each other by a coiled spring l2. The end of each leg is provided with an arcuate jaw it which is coated with abrasive material of sufficient hardness to score glass. The legs are each provided with offset portions l6 adjacent to the inner ends of the jaws for retaining the legs crossed against the action of the spring which is tensioned to retain the jaws in closed position as shown in Figs. 1-3.

When it is desired to remove the end Hi from the body 2|] of a capsule, the legs I U of the opener are pressed towards each other to spread the jaws M, the neck of the ampule is then inserted between the jaws and the pressure on the legs is relieved to permit the jaws to close about the neck of the ampule by the pressure of the spring. The legs of the opener, while the jaws are held in contact with the ampule by the spring, are then held in one hand without applying any pressure against the action of the spring l2, the body 20 of the capsule is then oscillated or turned relative to the jaws to score the neck of the ampule. After scoring, the ampule is removed from the opener, and, while holding the body 20 in one hand, the end [8 can readily be snapped from the body by the other hand at the scored portion.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the legs Ill are normally maintained spread by a spring 12 tensioned to maintain the jaws I l open for the reception of the neck of an ampule, when scoring the neck of an ampule with the above opener, the jaws are closed about the neck of the ampule by pressing the arms towards each other and then rotating or oscillating the ampule while the jaws are pressed about the neck of the ampule. After scoring, the end portion of the ampule is snapped from the body as above described.

In both forms the are or radius of the jaws is sufiicient to cause diametrically opposite portions of the neck of the largest size ampule to contact the abrasive material on the jaws.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An ampule opener formed of a single piece of spring wire having a pair of legs, the end of each leg being coated with abrasive material for scoring an ampule.

2. An ampule opener formed of a single piece of spring wire having a pair of legs, the end of each leg having a jaw member coated with abrasive material.

3. An ampule opener formed of a single piece of spring wire having a pair of legs, the end of each leg having a jaw member coated with abrasive material, and a spring connecting the legs to each other.

4. An ampule opener formed of a single piece of spring wire having a pair of legs, the end of each leg having a jaw member coated with abrasive material, and a coil spring connecting the legs to each other.

5. An ampule opener formed of a single piece of spring wire having a pair of legs, the end of each leg having a jaw member coated with abrasive material, and a coil spring connecting the legs to each other arranged to close the jaws.

6. An ampule opener formed of a single piece of spring wire having a pair of crossed legs, the end of each leg having an arcuate jaw member coated with abrasive material, and a coil spring connecting the legs to each other arranged to close the jaws.

'7. An ampule opener formed of a single piece of spring wire having a pair of legs, the end of each leg having a jaw member coated with abrasive material, and a coil spring connecting the legs to each other arranged to spread the jaws.

MICHAEL B. BIRO.

No references cited. 

